ST. THOMAS — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the Virgin Islands Port Authority’s permit application to build a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in Red Hook, Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe announced Tuesday. V.I.P.A. said the new building will be located at the Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal. Once this facility comes online it will eliminate the need for residents and visitors arriving from the British Virgin Islands to stop in St. John to clear Customs before traveling to St. Thomas. This will significantly reduce travel time between the USVI and BVI. The UVF Marine Facility is VIPA’s busiest ferry port and processes about 290,000 travelers between the USVI and the BVI annually, the Port Authority said. The project entails demolishing an old pier at the UVF terminal.  VIPA…